FAQ
Getting Started
How do I set up tracking?
Enter your Google Analytics 4 Measurement ID (starts with G-) or Google Tag Manager container ID (starts with GTM-) in the plugin settings under the Basic tab. That's it — the plugin handles script injection, consent collection, and cookie management automatically.
What if my template already includes Google Analytics code?
When you leave the tracking ID field empty, the plugin activates Legacy Mode. It automatically detects existing GA/GTM scripts in your page output and strips them until the visitor consents. No template editing required.
How do I link my privacy policy page?
In the plugin settings under the Content tab, use the "Privacy Policy Page" dropdown to select any Joomla menu item. The consent dialog will automatically display a link to that page.
Can I customize the consent message text?
Yes. The Content tab lets you set a custom headline and consent message text. When filled in, these override the default language strings — so you can personalize the wording without touching any language files.
Privacy & Compliance
Is this plugin GDPR compliant?
Yes. The plugin blocks all Google Analytics and Tag Manager scripts from loading until the visitor explicitly clicks "Accept." No tracking cookies are set, no data is sent to Google, and no external scripts are loaded until consent is given. The decline option is equally prominent and easy to reach.
What is local script hosting and why should I use it?
When enabled, the plugin downloads the Google Analytics or Tag Manager JavaScript file to your own server and serves it from there. This eliminates the external request to Google's CDN during page load, which means fewer third-party connections for your visitors and faster page performance. The local copy is refreshed automatically on a configurable schedule (default: every 7 days).
How does geo-detection work?
The plugin reads the visitor's browser Accept-Language header to determine their likely region. If their primary language matches an EU member state, EEA country, or the UK/Ireland, the consent dialog is shown. This approach requires no external API calls, no IP geolocation services, and no additional data processing — keeping everything privacy-friendly.
What happens with non-EU visitors?
You have three options in the Geo-Detection settings: Auto-agree silently sets consent and loads analytics immediately. Show consent displays the consent dialog just like for EU visitors. Skip plugin disables the plugin entirely for that visitor. The default is auto-agree for the smoothest experience outside regulated regions.
Customization
Can I match the consent box to my brand colors?
Absolutely. Choose from 5 built-in themes or select "Custom" to unlock a full color picker. You can independently set the background color, text color, accept button colors, and decline button colors — for both light and dark mode. See Appearance for details.
Does it support dark mode?
Yes, in three ways. Auto detects the visitor's OS preference and switches themes automatically. Always light always shows the light version. Always dark always shows the dark version. Each built-in theme includes a tailored dark palette, and the custom theme lets you define dark mode colors separately.
Can I change the position and animation of the consent box?
Yes. Choose from 4 positions — center modal (with backdrop overlay), full-width bottom bar, bottom-right corner, or bottom-left corner. Each position supports 4 entrance animations: fade in from top, bottom, left, or right. See Positions & Animations for details.
Technical
Which Joomla versions are supported?
Smart Local Google Analytics is built for Joomla 4.x, 5.x, and 6.x using modern plugin architecture (namespaced classes, SubscriberInterface, WebAssetManager). It requires PHP 8.3 or higher.
How are consent cookies stored?
The consent cookie uses the name slga-consent with the value agree or decline. It is set with HttpOnly (not readable by JavaScript), Secure (HTTPS-only when your site forces HTTPS), and SameSite=Lax flags. Cookie lifetime is configurable: session-only or a custom number of days (1–365). See Cookie Settings for details.
What languages are included?
English (en-GB) and German (de-DE) are included out of the box. The plugin is fully translatable — add support for any language by creating the appropriate .ini files in the language folder following Joomla's standard translation format.
Does the plugin make external API calls?
Only when local script hosting is enabled — and only to download the GA/GTM JavaScript file from Google's servers. This happens server-side (your server to Google, not your visitor's browser). The downloaded file is cached locally and served directly from your domain. No third-party geolocation APIs, no cookie consent CDNs, no external dependencies of any kind.
Does the plugin work with page caching?
The consent box is injected into the page HTML during Joomla's onAfterRender event. If a caching plugin serves a cached page before this event fires, the consent box may not appear. Ensure your caching setup does not cache pages for visitors without a consent cookie, or configure cache exclusions as needed.
Is the plugin open source?
Yes. Smart Local Google Analytics is licensed under the GNU General Public License v3 or later. The source code is available and you are free to modify it.